PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Residents in a Pinellas County neighborhood are concerned about an ongoing road closure they say makes it hard for first responders to get through.

What You Need To Know

Whitney Road has been closed at Wolford Road for nearly a year in unincorporated Pinellas
Neighbors have some concerns about firefighters responding to emergencies from a nearby fire station

The project is for roadway, drainage, sidewalk and safety improvements, currently set to be done next fall

 

The project is on Whitney Road at Wolford Road in unincorporated Pinellas. Whitney Road closed late last year to through traffic for an improvement project.

Neighbor Perry Goosie says he has had to take the detour every time he leaves home.

“It’s usually 13-20 minutes around the closure,” Goosie said.

Since the project started in December, he has had an ongoing worry.

“My concern is for the people in my neighborhood. I’m 76 years old and everyone over there is older. If something happens, if there is an emergency, it takes an extra 13 to 20 minutes, to get around this closure,” Goosie said.

Largo Fire Station 40 is right at the start of the closure. Firefighters have told Goosie that the roadblock does send them out of their way.

“If your house is on fire, that’s extra time that your house is burning. How much worse can it get?” Goosie said.

Nearly a year later, he feels enough work has been done that part of the road could now be opened.

Pinellas County officials say the project is for roadway, drainage, sidewalk and safety improvements, currently set to be done next fall.

“I know this needed to be done. But it’s just aggravating when it takes so long,” Goosie said.

So he’s hoping the county considers opening at least part of the road before a potential emergency.

“At least at the minimum, make it so that the fire department can get through for emergency services without a problem,” Goosie said.

Pinellas County officials didn’t say if the road would reopen soon. But they say that emergency services are continuously notified of closures.

For more information on closures and the project, visit the Pinellas County website.